Ecological Society of America on GMO's

["Ian Murray" <seamus2001@xxxxxxxx>]

< http://esa.sdsc.edu/statement0601.htm >
ESA Statement on Genetically Modified Organisms

The Ecological Society of America, which represents 8,000 ecological
scientists, supports the judicious use of biotechnology.  Genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) have the potential to play a role in
sustainable agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and bioremediation.
However, both deliberate and inadvertent releases of GMOs into the
environment could also have negative ecological impacts under certain
circumstances. For example, fast-growing transgenic salmon might
jeopardize native fish populations, or altered viruses for biocontrol
of insects may have unexpected effects on non-target populations.  GMO
risk evaluation should focus on the product, but should recognize that
some GMOs can possess genuinely new characteristics that may require
greater scrutiny than organisms produced by traditional techniques of
plant and animal breeding. Since long-term ecological impacts of GMOs
may be extremely difficult to predict or study prior to
commercialization, ESA strongly recommends a cautious approach to
releasing GMOs into the environment.



GMOs should be evaluated and used within the context of a
scientifically based regulatory policy that encourages innovation
without compromising sound environmental management. The process by
which this occurs should be open to public scrutiny. Environmental
risks associated with GMOs should be evaluated relative to appropriate
risk reference scenarios, such as conventionally bred organisms, with
due consideration of the ecology of the organism receiving the trait,
the trait itself, and the environment into which the organism will be
introduced.



Engineered organisms that may pose some risk and hence require
scrutiny include cases where there is uncertainty about environmental
effects.  These could be cases where:



¨ there is little prior experience with the organismal trait and host
combination;

¨ an organism may persist without human intervention;

¨ genetic exchange is possible between a transformed organism and
unaltered organisms, or

¨ the trait confers an advantage to the GMO over native species in a
given environment.



An assessment of environmental risk is needed to minimize the
likelihood of negative ecological effects such as:



¨ creating new or more vigorous pests and pathogens;

¨ exacerbating the effects of existing pests through hybridization
with related transgenic plants or animals;

¨ harm to non-target species, such as soil organisms, non-pest
insects, birds, and other animals;

¨ disruptive effects on biotic communities; and

¨ irreparable loss or changes in species diversity and genetic
diversity within species.



ESA urges scientifically-based risk assessment of GMOs and standards
appropriate for product testing and release into the environment.  The
Society is committed to providing scientific information that can aid
in the development of GMOs with neutral or beneficial ecological
effects.



Approved by the ESA Governing Board, May 2001.